The dog ate the top half of two of my baby Japanese Maples--They were only about 12in tall, and there are no branches left after the dog was done. Both are now just 2in nubs. Is there any hope for these? Should I cut the trunk more to make it a clean cut---or should I just trash them? I was thinking since the roots were fine, there is still hope, but my husband said they are destroyed. This makes me so sad!
Providing the roots are healthy they should come back fine from a two inch stump. Making it a clean cut would be a good idea. One area of concern - if they were grafted plants, and the dog bit them off below the graft line, then all that will come back will be the rootstock variety which might not be as attractive as the original cultivar. Good luck.
I had squirrels eat the top off an Oregon Fern last year. I thought it was a complete loss, but kept it, and it came back very well. I have to be very careful with japonica here, it seems they are irresistible to squirrels! Everything else is OK. I only had dogs eat coleus to the roots, never maples, thank goodness. At any rate, don't give up on it.
